Dumbbell weight training device having detachable weight plates

Abstract

Disclosed is a dumbbell of the type commonly found in a fitness center to be used as a weight training device during a weight training or exercise program. The dumbbell includes a gripping handle and a pair of collars fixedly connected to opposites ends of the handle. A series of weight plates having correspondingly different weights are adapted to be detachably connected to each other and to each one of the collars so as to enable a user to selectively and incrementally adjust the gross weight of the dumbbell to conform to his weight training program. Each weight plate carries a lock cartridge having an engagement pin moving therethrough between retracted and extended positions in response to a manual pushing force. In the extended position, the engagement pin of an additional weight plate is received within an engagement pin extension channel of an existing weight plate being carried by the dumbbell, whereby to prevent a disconnection of the additional weight plate from the existing weight plate.

1. A weight training device comprising a gripping handle at which said weight training device is lifted, a first weight plate connected to said gripping handle and having a coupling body projecting therefrom, and at least one additional weight plate to be detachably connected to said first weight plate, said additional weight plate having an engagement pin moving between retracted and extended positions relative to said first weight plate, said engagement pin being moved to the extended position at which to be removably received by said first weight plate, whereby said additional weight plate is detachably connected to said first weight plate, and said engagement pin being moved to the retracted position at which to be removed from said first weight plate, whereby said additional weight plate is disconnected from said first weight plate, said additional weight plate including a coupling slot aligned for receipt of the coupling body of said first weight plate and an engagement pin receiving channel communicating with said coupling slot, said engagement pin moving to the extended position and riding through the engagement pin receiving channel of said additional weight plate and into engagement with the coupling body of said first weight plate at said coupling slot, whereby said additional weight plate is lifted together with said first weight plate. 
   
   
     2. The weight training device recited in  claim 1 , wherein said gripping handle is a bar and said first and additional weight plates are coupled to one another in face-to-face alignment, such that such weight training device is a dumbbell. 
   
   
     3. The weight training device recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a position control knob attached to said engagement pin, said position control knob being manually accessible to receive a pushing force thereagainst for correspondingly causing said engagement pin to move to said retracted and extended positions depending upon the direction of said pushing force. 
   
   
     4. The weight training device recited in  claim 3 , further comprising a lock cartridge received within a cartridge cavity formed in said additional weight plate, said engagement pin being carried by said lock cartridge and movable therethrough between said retracted and extended positions in response to the pushing force applied against the position control knob attached to said engagement pin. 
   
   
     5. The weight training device recited in  claim 1 , wherein said coupling body projecting from said first weight plate for receipt by the coupling slot of said additional weight plate includes an engagement pin extension channel, said engagement pin riding through said engagement pin receiving channel and into receipt by said engagement pin extension channel, whereby the engagement pin of said additional weight plate is located in mating engagement with the coupling body of said first weight plate and said additional weight plate is thereby connected to said first weight plate. 
   
   
     6. A weight training device comprising:
 a gripping handle at which said weight training device is lifted; 
 a collar fixedly connected to said gripping handle; 
 a first weight plate connected to said collar; and 
 a second weight plate to be coupled to said first weight plate and lifted therewith, said second weight plate having an engagement pin movable between a retracted position, at which said second weight plate is disconnected from said first weight plate, and an extended position, at which said second weight plate is detachably connected to said first weight plate, said engagement pin moving between said retracted and said extended positions in response to a pushing force applied to said engagement pin, 
 said first weight plate having an engagement pin channel formed therein, the engagement pin of said second weight plate being moved to the extended position at which to be received within said engagement pin extension channel to thereby prevent a disconnection of said second weight plate from said first weight plate, and 
 said second weight plate having a coupling slot formed therein and said first weight plate having a coupling body projecting therefrom and aligned for receipt within the coupling slot of said second weight plate, said engagement pin channel being formed in the coupling body of said first weight plate, the receipt of said engagement pin by said engagement pin channel in said coupling body preventing a removal of said coupling body from said coupling slot and correspondingly preventing the disconnection of said second weight plate from said first weight plate. 
 
   
   
     7. The weight training device recited in  claim 6 , wherein said first weight plate also has an engagement pin movable between said retracted and extended positions and said collar also has an engagement pin channel formed therein, the engagement pin of said first weight plate being moved to the extended position at which to be received within the engagement pin channel of said collar, whereby said first weight plate is connected to said collar. 
   
   
     8. The weight training device recited in  claim 4 , wherein said lock cartridge is removable from the cartridge cavity formed in said additional weight plate. 
   
   
     9. The weight training device recited in  claim 6 , further comprising a locking cartridge, said second weight plate having a locking cartridge cavity within which to receive said locking cartridge, the engagement pin of said second weight plate being carried by and moving relative to said locking cartridge from said retracted position to said extended position at which to be received by the engagement pin channel in the coupling body of said first weight plate to prevent a disconnection of said second weight plate from said first weight plate. 
   
   
     10. The weight training device recited in  claim 9 , wherein said locking cartridge is removable from the locking cartridge cavity of said second weight plate. 
   
   
     11. The weight training device recited in  claim 6 , further comprising a position control knob attached to said engagement pin, said position control knob being manually accessible to receive a pushing force thereagainst for correspondingly causing said engagement pin to move between said retracted and extended positions depending upon the direction of said pushing force. 
   
   
     12. A weight training device comprising a gripping handle at which said weight training device is lifted, a first weight plate connected to said gripping handle and having a coupling body projecting therefrom, and an engagement pin channel located in said coupling body, and at least one additional weight plate to be detachably connected to said first weight plate, a lock cartridge, said additional weight plate having a cartridge cavity within which to removably receive said lock cartridge, and an engagement pin carried by and movable through said lock cartridge between retracted and extended positions relative to said first weight plate, said engagement pin being moved to the extended position at which to be removably attached to said first weight plate, whereby said additional weight plate is detachably connected to said first weight plate, and said engagement pin being moved to the retracted position at which to be removed from said first weight plate, whereby said additional weight plate is disconnected from said first weight plate, said additional weight plate including a coupling slot aligned for receipt of the coupling body of said first weight plate therewithin, said engagement pin moving to the extended position at which to be received by the engagement pin channel in the coupling body of said first weight plate at the coupling slot of said additional weight plate, whereby said additional weight plate is connected to and lifted with said first weight plate.